When approached to help with a charity art auction to help raise funds for The Kings and Queen's Kapa Haka group I jumped at the chance to be involved.
Each artist was sent out a 'patu' shaped board to paint. Patu is a term used for a broad-blade club used by Māori warriors for close-quarter fighting. When I received the board I ponded what to create. The shape reminded me of a whale with its wide body and narrow tail. Remembering that the patu is a weapon I thought it even more appropriate to paint an animal that needs us to fight for its protection more than ever.
It wasn't until writing this blog that I realised that patu were sometimes made from whale bone. I find that almost spokey.
Watch below as I build up the layers of 'Under the Blue'.
2018, Oil on Patu Panel, 420x145mm, (16.5 in x 5.7 in)
